MONTPELIER — Three Vermont schools are being honored by the U.S. Department of Education for their efforts to reduce their environmental impact and utility costs.

Reading Elementary School, St. Albans Elementary School and Shelburne Community School are among 64 schools picked nationally as Green Ribbon Schools.

Among the schools’ efforts, Reading Elementary School students used locally-owned goats to get rid of poison ivy around the school.

A staff committee at Shelburne Community School promoted walking, biking and hiking to school while parents and students maintained flower and vegetable gardens. And St. Albans City Elementary insulated the windows with thermal shades, converted to energy efficient lighting, added insulation and installed up-to-date electrical, heating and cooling systems. The students also pushed to have the school’s compostable food go to a local farmer.